President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said that considerable work must be carried out jointly by the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fitness and sports associations to achieve the target of having athletes who are completely free from tobacco use represented in every national team.
As part of ongoing efforts to build a healthy, tobacco-free population, the government implemented its Generational Tobacco Ban policy towards the end of last year. In line with the policy, the Cabinet decided on 18 August to make national team athletes a group protected from tobacco use.
Speaking about the issue on PSM News’ Nation Chat programme, President Dr Muizzu said the goal was to ensure that the Maldives’ national athletes remain free from tobacco. He stressed that achieving this objective would require extensive work by the sports ministry in collaboration with associations and other relevant organisations.
The President said all necessary measures must be taken jointly by institutions to encourage athletes to stay away from tobacco use and make it easier for them to do so.
“We want athletes who are free from tobacco use to be part of all our national teams. If we are to reach that target, there is work that needs to be done. Therefore, through the work carried out jointly by the Sports Ministry and sports associations, we need to look at encouraging and incentivising athletes, or facilitating matters in various ways, to help them stay away from tobacco use,” the President said.
President Muizzu said the government’s efforts were aimed at creating a healthier population of young people. He said that if the set targets were achieved, significant improvements could be made in the health and performance of Maldivian athletes.
He also expressed hope that the country’s youth population could become tobacco-free as a result of the ongoing efforts, saying the targets could be achieved with determination and commitment.
“The health of the athletes and their performance will also improve. That is why we have set this target to achieve that objective. If there is determination, the results can be achieved,” President Muizzu said.
The Cabinet decided earlier this month to establish specific targets aimed at ensuring that athletes participating in national teams are free from tobacco use. Among the key decisions taken were measures to raise public awareness about the dangers of tobacco and nicotine, as well as actions related to implementing the Generational Ban on Tobacco.
The Cabinet also decided to expand a national campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco and nicotine, with the participation of youth associations on various islands and groups active in sports.